On Monday 29th September, Taranaki educator Bali Hague had an open letter to the Minister of Education published on the Post website. Minister, you have intentionally narrowed the curriculum by insisting that students must study five subjects, each taking a whole year to “master”. However, in your proposal, both vocational subjects and school-based curriculum subjects will still count towards gaining a certificate. You have produced a list of vocational subjects, each of which must be delivered for a full year, probably through an industry provider. This enforced standardisation of task will inevitably lead to a serious further narrowing of the senior school curriculum.